Foreign Policy Update – USA Gov Policy

TAIWAN

Taiwan and the US are developing closer ties in the wake of recent Chinese CCP aggression and the Covid-19 virus. This week, after positive discussions on agriculture, President Tsai Ing-wen announced a major change in trade policy with the United States, which addresses outstanding issues in beef and pork imports. On August 27, the announcement from President Tsai’s office said it is removing obstacles to “pave the way for advancing the bilateral Taiwan-US trade relationship” by lifting several restrictions to provide US access to Taiwan’s domestic meat market.

Taiwan’s Representative to the United States Bi-khim Hsiao called the effort “timely” and said that it will “…create the infrastructure to fortify and deepen the already significant trade relationship between reliable and like-minded partners.” Taiwan is the United States’ 9^th largest trade partner and 7^th largest export market. Washington is taking a stronger stand against Chinese human rights abuses, military aggression, unfair trade practices and other transgressions among the community of nations. Taiwan appears ready to become a critical force in the realignment of global supply chains.

CHINA

The United States announced it is placing restrictions on Chinese state-owned companies and executives due to the dispute in the South China Seas which has been escalating in recent weeks. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that since 2013, China has “used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation.”

GREAT BRITAIN

The United States is dismayed to learn that the “Chinese Communist Party’s coercive bullying tactics against our friends in the United Kingdom continues,” according to the State Department. This week British bank HSBC has reportedly prevented Hong Kong-based executives at Next Media, a well-known publisher of pro-democracy publications, from accessing their credit cards and personal bank accounts.” It noted that the bank is thus maintaining accounts for individuals who have been sanctioned for denying freedom for Hong Kongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom.

ISRAEL

Secretary Pompeo was in Israel this past week for discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. After the meeting in the Prime Minister’s office the two leaders spoke with the media. Pompeo reassured Israel that “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” He committed to using every tool that the US has to ensure that Iran can’t get access to high-end weapon systems or air defense systems.

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“It’s time to publicly account for the fact that Iran is on the cusp on October 18th of having access to those weapons and the money that will come from their sale of those weapons that will be used to inflict real harm, not only in the Middle East but in Europe as well,” he added.

UKRAINE

During Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Beigun’s August 26-27 visit to Ukraine, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister Reznikov, and Foreign Minister Kuleba to discuss a broad range of multilateral and regional issues, including Ukraine’s reform agenda, the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the situation in Belarus. He reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to the State Department, “The United States attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine as a free and democratic state with a flourishing market economy.” American policy is centered on supporting Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression as it advances reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, fight corruption, and promote conditions for economic growth and competition.

IRAQ

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq Joey Hood said that recent discussions with Iraqi officials reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a long-term strategic partnership with the country and respect for its sovereignty. Iraq pledged to protect US and other intentional guests from attacks by Iran-backed militias. Iraq and the US are expected to hold additional meetings in the near future covering a wide range of topics including Iraq’s preparations for credible elections, protecting civil society, helping its religious and ethnic components recover from ISIS atrocities.

The two countries signed nine Memorandums of Understanding on development, finance, health, and energy and the US announced a gift of $204 million more in humanitarian assistance and $10 million for UNAMI’s election support efforts in Iraq.

DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media Inc., which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government. Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.

Illustration: Pixabay

Quick Analysis

Election Day is Only the Beginning, Part 2

There is a stark contrast in foreign affairs between the Biden-Harris record of a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Putin invasion of Ukraine, China’s assault on the Philippine exclusive economic zone, and the widening Middle East catastrophe. The Trump White House archives provides a lengthy list of foreign policy results. “President Trump restored American sovereignty at home and American leadership abroad, partnering with strong and responsible nations to promote security, prosperity, and peace. Instead of sending American troops to fight in endless wars or giving cash to terrorists in countries like Iran, the United States under President Trump used bold, creative diplomacy to secure peace deals with our allies across the world. With the same “peace through strength” foreign policy that President Reagan once used to win the Cold War, President Trump rebuilt American deterrence power to hold our adversaries accountable. Perhaps most important, the Trump Administration reversed Washington’s decades-long, bipartisan refusal to confront China over its unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft, and more. Specifically, the Trump Administration: “Secured a $400 billion increase in defense spending from NATO allies by 2024, as the number of members meeting their minimum financial obligations more than doubled Credited by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for strengthening NATO Worked to reform and streamline the United Nations and reduced spending by $1.3 billion Allies, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, committed to increase burden-sharing Protected our Second Amendment rights by announcing that the United States will never ratify the UN Arms Trade Treaty Returned 56 hostages and detainees from more than 24 countries Worked to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region, promoting new investments and expanding American partnerships Advanced peace through strength Withdrew from the one-sided Iran Nuclear Deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian regime Conducted vigorous enforcement on all sanctions to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero and deny the regime its principal source of revenue First president to meet with a leader of North Korea and the first sitting president to cross the demilitarized zone into North Korea Maintained a maximum pressure campaign and enforced tough sanctions on North Korea while negotiating denuclearization, the release of American hostages, and the return of the remains of American heroes Brokered economic normalization between Serbia and Kosovo, bolstering peace in the Balkans Signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act and ended the United States’ preferential treatment with Hong Kong to hold China accountable for its infringement on the autonomy of Hong Kong Led allied efforts to defeat the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to control the international telecommunications system Recognized Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel and quickly moved the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem Acknowledged Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights and declared that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are not inconsistent with international law Removed the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council due to the group’s blatant anti-Israel bias Brokered historic peace agreements between Israel and Arab-Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Sudan Brokered a deal for Kosovo to normalize ties and establish diplomatic relations with Israel Announced that Serbia would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem First American president to address an assembly of leaders from more than 50 Muslim nations, reaching an agreement to fight terrorism in all its forms Established the Etidal Center to combat terrorism in the Middle East in conjunction with the Saudi Arabian government Announced the Vision for Peace Political Plan—a two-state solution that resolves the risks of Palestinian statehood to Israel’s security, marking the first time Israel has agreed to a map and a Palestinian state Released an economic plan to empower the Palestinian people and enhance Palestinian governance through historic private investment Reversed the previous administration’s Cuba policy, canceling the sellout deal with the Communist Castro dictatorship Pledged not to lift sanctions until all political prisoners are freed, freedoms of assembly and expression are respected, all political parties are legalized, and free elections are scheduled Enacted a new policy aimed at preventing American dollars from funding the Cuban regime, including stricter travel restrictions and restrictions on the importation of Cuban alcohol and tobacco Implemented a cap on remittances to Cuba Enabled Americans to file lawsuits against persons and entities that traffic in property confiscated by the Cuban regime First world leader to recognize Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela and led a diplomatic coalition against the Socialist Dictator of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Blocked all property of the Venezuelan government in the jurisdiction of the United States Cut off the financial resources of the Maduro regime and sanctioned key sectors of the Venezuelan economy exploited by the regime Brought criminal charges against Nicolas Maduro for his narco-terrorism Imposed stiff sanctions on the Ortega regime in Nicaragua Photo: Trump site